Tick, tock, tick, tock. With six days officially remaining until the start of the European Championship, Portugal undergoes another test to prepare for the final competition in Germany.
Before that, the cornerback team will face an opponent that promises to create more difficulties than those faced by the team led by Roberto Martinez in recent matches. It must be remembered that Croatia's “golden generation” led by players like Modric, Kovacic and Brozovic were runners-up in the 2018 World Cup, and in 2022, they again climbed to the podium, this time in third place.
The match begins at 5:45 pm, at Jamur Stadium, marking the return of the national team to its homeland. We need to go back to May 31, 2014 to watch Portugal's last match at the Estadio Nacional in Oeiras. At that time against Greece, led by Fernando Santos, the Seleção das Kenas, under the leadership of Paulo Bento, did not go beyond a goalless draw.
Moment of form
After a perfect qualification for the European Championship, with ten wins in ten matches, Portugal will play three matches in 2024, against Finland, Slovenia and Sweden. The preparation journey for the European Championship began against Sweden, completing the era of Roberto Martinez's victories, after winning 5-2, at the Afonso Henriques Stadium, in Guimarães.
But the Eagle's cold bucket arrived a few days later, in Ljubljana, against Slovenia, with the first defeat, 2-0, since the Spanish coach took charge of Portugal.
As the countdown to the European Championship began, the Seleção das Quinas national team held the first of three preparation tests, on Tuesday, against Finland, in which Portugal managed to win 4-2, at the Estadio José Alvalade.
Roberto Martinez will now be able to rely on Nelson Semedo for Saturday's match. Conversely, Pepe remains out, as do Cristiano Ronaldo and Ruben Neves, who joined the team on Friday, working towards Tuesday's match against Ireland.
Also in preparation for the European Championship, Croatia won the last preparatory match against Macedonia with a score of 3-0. Earlier this year, the Croats beat Egypt 4-2 and played to a scoreless draw with Tunisia.
History of confrontation
Croatia is an opponent that brings back good memories for Portugal, as the national team achieved, between official and private matches, six victories and only one draw, and still has a large goal difference compared to the Croatian team (15 versus only four).
The last time the two teams met was in 2020, at the time of the Nations League group stage, where Portugal won 3-2, thanks to a Ruben Dias brace and a Joao Felix goal.
Portugal will return to action in Jamor, after ten years, to play its 51st match at the National Stadium. If we go back in time, we find that the Portuguese team has achieved twenty wins, thirteen draws and seventeen defeats at the Oeiras Stadium.
What the coaches say:
Roberto Martinez: “The stability of the coach, who is doing a great job, makes Croatia a competitive and different opponent than what we have so far. The opponent must show our level, we need to work on our communication, and it is important that we defend.” “Well without the ball.”
Portugal will host the Croatia national team, at the Estadio Nacional stadium in the city of Jamor, Oeiras, next Saturday, in the second preparatory match for the European Championship, which will be managed by German Harm Osmers. The match is scheduled to start at 5:45 p.m It can be followed every minute on SAPO Desportowith photos and videos of highlights.
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